US manufacturer to build battery storage facilities in UK

NEC Energy Solutions has unveiled plans to build two energy storage facilities in the UK.

A 40MW facility will be constructed at Glassenbury in Kent and a 10MW site will be opened at Cleator in Cumbria.

Both facilities are being built in partnership with VLC Energy, a new joint venture created by Low Carbon, a renewable energy investment company, and VPI Immingham, the owner of one of the largest combined heat and power plants in Europe and part of the Vitol Group.

The two sites secured contracts with National Grid in August 2016 for battery energy storage systems to provide Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR) to the UK system operator.

More renewable energy

Justin Thesiger, Operations Director at Low Carbon, said: “We’re delighted to work with NEC Energy Solutions to develop the UK’s largest portfolio of energy storage plants for National Grid.

“These battery sites will pave the way for more renewable energy sources, such as solar power and wind energy, to be connected to the UK’s overall power mix by helping to balance energy supply and demand more effectively.

“This in turn should help to challenge the causes of climate change and meet growing demand for renewable energy.”